Powerful earthquake hits North India

A powerful earthquake hit the Sikkim-Nepal border with 6.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale at 6.10 p.m on Sunday. The epicentre was about 69 km northwest of Gangtok, 119 km north-northwest of Siliguri and 272 km east of Kathmandu. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said more aftershocks were likely, considering the magnitude of the quake.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directed Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth to call an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority and he himself is monitoring the developments connected to the quake.

According to initial reports, 17 persons are dead and more than 100 injured causing extensive damage to buildings and roads.